Upright-piano frame.



m q W w W. LANE.

UPRIGHT PIANO FRAME.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 30. 1913.

1 ,146,433. Patented Ju1y 13; 1915.

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

I l-ql 4 glmwwboz WWW U- flmm u COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH co., WASHINGTON. n. c

W. LANE.

UPRIGHT PIANO FRAME.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 30. 1913.

- 1,14 ,433, Patented July 13, 1915.

v 3 SHEETSSHEET Z.

INVENTOR Patented July 13, 1915.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3 .IGL

' Wa/fer Lane 8)- I {W775i ATTORNEYS IIIIIIIIIIIIIII i WITNESSES.

COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH 60., WASHINGTON, D. c.

To all;ibhommtmayfcoficem Q 'sBe it 'h oWn'that L'.WALTER LAN a c1t1-" zen'i'o-f: the 'UnitedfStates} residing at Holland,-"; lVIichigaI- have invented-Qcertain new "landlllseful Improvements? in IUprightEPiano I Eraniesf of which E the "following I is a speci- This inventionrelatesto improvements in pright-"piano frafnes.'1ji, Y i I the con'struc'tion of piano'-franies making a J ThVob jject oftheinvent'on-is to improve laminated; ri'rnfof 1'. layers; of wood glued togethjer supporting the L sounding board I and the :wrest plankat one {the} sanieltimei and fo rming a, frame and back for the piano around' whi'chi the"case;isbuilt.

1 "Objects whichzrrelate tomere details and to ='econoni'iefs" o-f constrilction will-definitely I appear from I the'ff et ailed description to f I accomplish thefobjects of my; invention follow; i-

' the devices and means "described in the follg awing specification; a o i The invention is (fully defined and pointed out in the claims. I

bodinnent of iny' invention is illustrated the jiaccoinpanying drawing, forrninga .part

of this specification in whi'ch-r I Figure L I is a detail rear-5p erspec'tive I View I of a piano embodylng the features of'my invenuon; showing the contour and-outline of thelfranie and-bracingsupporter Fig. II

I a of Fig' l g algen an" I line; I of? Figs. I

I a I is a frontperspective view oi' thefranieytheb I showing' idetails ofthe string plate. Fig; is -an jenlarged'jdetail' sectioi'ralj' View one; line entire: from; "or ii the piano being removed,

rresp'qndings to the line 3"3 of-iFig I,

filler bar 3 oined te 'tlie j frame j 31; "Fig.-

e pp r n m the'zstructiire"of theif' pp line orr esponding to V. Fig. VIds an I nlargedfdetail sectiona View througlfithe joint 'b'etvvleen the 'filler" bar 3 thefiran e' on a line corresponding tonne I p I a1"view {through the jointbe; tween} the fillerbar; and I the frame; 'take'n .on' a' line"-.corre'sponding to; line 7 7 o f Figs.

ismseinmo AM 13 I further detailsof the;

" ence refer Elli) similar a Fig V L nhrg d QANEQ$HQL A D mele S US LANE; PIANO 0F r wHQLI A P MICHIQ i Fig, vin ls an enlarged detail:- f sectional view showing t details oftenstruction the connection ofthebar. 5; to

the righthand portionof the fraine'appearmg 1n..F1g.I, takenlon. a line corresponding tov line 8- -8, of Fig; IX. Fig. IX .is' an enlargedi detail sectional View showingthe same joint parts takenion alineceorrespond ing to line 9 9 of'Figs. I and VIILI Fig.

X is an enlarged. detail sectional vie ltaken onthe irregularly curved: line? 10f3. :10 of Figs. I andXI showing the -.details-iof the joint between the, posts andwhe: bars 15,, Fig. XI is va sectional I viewi on a line corresponding, to line 11-1l of Fig Xzsho wing posts andthebars 5, 55.1 .1 .::In the drawing-similar,-

of refer-i I parts lthrougho it the several"Views.

b Consideringifthe reference characters, the piano frame'is of theupright designpand" f the case having the sides 2 is builtaround said frame; "Aacontinuous"laminated I or frame 3,. built up of thin layers of wood glued together, .extendsfrom the upper bass c ornerofthe wrest'plank 7' 'downwardly to near-the bottoni edge of the sounding board" I 16,:then curving inwardly, along the bottom. oflthe' sounding boardifor about two thirds ofthe distance, then curving upwardly and .Loiitwardly to a point at about two thirds of the] height; and; then extending along the j ointf between the ,l rmah i us P nt nie- Application filedbet'ober 30,1913; "Seria1No.798,302. r 7

edgegofthesonnding board to the'top of the f wrestplank at .th'eitreble end. A filler bar 3""of the same laminated:constructionlis provided at the lower end ofthe treble side offthe' soundingsboa-rd and extends downwardly vand inwardly along the edge of the sounding board". Thisl'filler .bar fil'ls out the general contour of theirame and 'aifords' in conjunction therewith elvtra support for the sounding board, enablinglthe'frame to keep the crown in the jsoiinding board. I The upper ends of thei sides: of this rim or frame 3 are 'eonnected by} a cross-bar 4 and the wrest p'lank i'. 'A 'brace bar 5; also m'ade-of'l ayers r ofwoodgluedtogether extendsifrom the top of the sounding'fboardatthe treble side I curving upwardly to, about two thirds of the distance across the: 1 topand then dividing intotwo branches,*one extendingfslightly up jnstbelow the lower edge oif the wrest plank.

' and'joining' the bass side :of the :frame 3 a l v pinsean: be usedito. assist inthisi 1Ho1es are bored th1iougl1;ithe rame 3rland the filler bar 3 landvtlarge' ma 1 ;*:d;owe1s 20 arejthe l in-" sertedtinvthe se iholes',qas"shown.in Eig. 'III. 1

f Theifends 1015' 1 these dowels are split and Wedges .21- iarewfittedfflto; the sainei The ,Wedges and. dowelsarethoroughly'glued'and the Wedges are "driveninto the split endsofal joins the sideof the frame 3"at'al 'lfiointabout h y do y Fi lf of the drawings This iorms-qw-cqtofi ang j; rim sup-port, at the sameftinne allowing-a greaterarea of sounding board greater; "freedom of vibration. This bar 5, forms" pp h@ uppe e e f esou ldin boardysupportingj the j same free. "from thef iwrest plank, This makes a.-..vferly' ';strtmg frame With'great resonance; Two laminated po'stsi8 made of.fgluedupglayersof iwo'o' are" I set, intoqthis-lfrangefor the puriiose-Ofibolt- 'ing. the string: frame to the same; "although "with my improved piano fraine suohf posts" might be; dispensed .with by reinforcing. the stringframe fll; 1*

2 The laminated. structure WhlCh I preferably use consists of alternatelayers of maple a 'and iwalnut. L'lhel'endsofthe filler'bar53 20 struetion'whichlWillnoW describe. Asimi- .,1ar. construction jinay be made use of at the placeslwherefthe bracez bars v5 and 5 j-join and wirlier'e the bra''e bfar5ijoins the frame, 3." The eml of "the 'ifiller' bar-3: is first shaped; so 7 aslto engage thejperiphery,ofithelriniaper i fectlyg *Glue' is Zappl ied to-t he contacting, s'urfac es of the fillerbah 3f; and the frame 3,. as indioated i'bygth eflihe 19in Fig; III; This glue holds theparts together',ibut dowel may,bejoinedtoltheframe 3 by; the eon the dowel pinsg spreading'the same. When Itheglue dries it .is impossible :to remove the Wedges, aiid the *frame having been pressed together with a steeljcla'm'p iteis' im'pos'sible; to 7 Pull this '1' oint apart. '1 I have 's'h'ow-n j this as a possible construction for the joiiits r e- 1 ferred to above; but. other constructions might beVeryWell 'madeuse of.

,I., show the 'j oi tat the' upper end' s'ofethe,

filler bar 3 Withithe fraine: 3 win FigsL-VI:

and QVII, the same being "Very similar to the Y joint at the-lower.part'except'th'at.thescurveis jmlore abr'upt;,; i ljshowidetailsin: construe; 'tion of the rim?) and its eonn'eetionywith the; "j brace bar ammo, the ;topebar4o:the framei,

dotted llIlBSwlI]. FigJeIV'vand the upper 611d..i0f

, the rim issdoweled to the.topjsbarilofithe frame"; Inzthis-oonnectioil' I mightsay-Where v IT havev shown lugegm l ,dowels with Wedges in'etheir jends, that screws, bolts-- or other! meansinight1b.e"made use of. *Thes'e' aredetailswhi'ch are frequently modified;

I [I In FigsVIII anlIX I show theljoint be inlifigs". =X and XI-.-1;These;brae barsva'rez o laminated WQOd and it will: be seen-that the join'ed' together andv a Veny ,staneh ji'str0n heavy strain put' upon itnpThis frame i and -11, at the treble end; Withfascale 'ri being extended ldownwardly at" -10,':..and;f11

part" of the stringplate; A heavy uprigh j bar 13 :is. at the treble end and conneets to-J heavy curved bar portion 14: ;.o the, tram which conforms to the -lower left hand, 1P0

suitable screws lfi', 15.,1'as, clearlyfappear The sounding 'board116 isfl'supported any usual "way and; hasf'the zusual. ribs proved. piano framework structure infrth form preferred. by; me, butas indicated in; the description; the same canbe c'onsiderabl "modified Without departing'from' the spit o fbrny invention. t j Y a 1 1 I5 l-Iaving' thus descr bed my invention, WhattersBatent isf: v f 1 An upright piano eor'nprising thee wrest'plankdownwardly tothe bottom edg *of said sounding 1board,=: thens extendin wardithe edg :Q the ounding b ard point-about; wo. thirdstoi th h ight theite h ntextending upwardly a ong th edge v h oundixigb a d' andi e d .Qfi h'e' e ge of: the so nd g bo rd, a the treb end thereof; a laminated: brace baiflextend "'ing' from the top of-the'sounding-board t;

pi-eei-selj v be same] manner; I it. not being ees'saryjj'to illustrate thatfin' .vie

c't the bracejbar 5. beirig xfi th ;t ckness from front'to rearas. the ba gained into the posts 8, Slas clearlyappear's Whole stipueture is; thus. most intimatel rimxis pizqduoed'whioh effectually resists th associated with a full metal string plate which is provided with heavy; braces- 9;

1.2 between the ame, the braces .l;(lland' l below scale, ribicl2: and" eonnectedftothe'lowerj tioii QftheframezB, and. is secured; thereto b from 'an in'spectionofi Eig. II; a t

beveled ",ofl' at .17 toward] each, end, vWh they are disposed in suitable-gains onothe Wise copnecteditofl ,thesupportiug bars an frame. 4 I 7 a H .havethusideseribedt in detailmy in;

I clai'ngijas, new and d esire, seeure by, Le

bijnation. withia wrest plan-hand 'afsound boars-of, al etedrame flpp'orti g S wrestfplank and said sounding "board ex tendingfrOIIi the topi-jof the-bass end of sai ong ey et gel e ou ding be for; about two thirds of the length thereo then; i curving tupwardlyu and j laterally a p anki oithe pfiedge' of sa d'i re t trp laminat fi l r. b i p sed @1911 $1 h r b e e of the am f r ab ut, t half otth d ce across t h ten (if; s id;

sounding" board and then extending down-f wardlyzand laterally and meeting the main frame fata point about one! half the height y th'ere'of ;;andan auxiliary brace bar disposed I atthe'ltop ofthe soundingboard 'at the bass endpiof said frame andconnecting vthe up- 'perle'ndof said main frame with theupper' "end ofj said brace bar,'all, 'coacting substan I tially 'asdescribed for the purpose specified.

v 2. An upright piano comprising the comt 1, bination with; a wrest plank and 'a sounding board, ofa laminated frame supporting said I Wrest plank Jand' saidfsounding board exsounding board andthe end ofthe wrest v lank't oitheftop edge'of said wrest plank,"

a laminated brace 7, bar extending from the top of 'th'e 's'ounding board' at the treble end v v so;

I offthev'frame for about-one half of the dis- 1 tance across the topf'of said soundingboard i "andthen extending-downwardly and laterally and-meeting the mainframe at a point about one-half the height thereof, and an .auxiliary brace bar disposed at the top of ftheflsounding board at the bass endzof said .flframeiand connecting'the upperend of, said mainframe with the upper end of said brace v all, coacting substantially as described I for the purpose specified.

3. An upright piano comprising thecomfor about two-thirds of the length thereof, [then curving upwardly and laterally toward ;-bination with a wrest plank anda sounding board, of a laminated frame supporting'said, wrest plankyand said sounding board ex-i tending from the top of the bass end of said wrest plank downwardly tothe bottom edge of said sounding board, .then extending along the bottom edge ofthe sounding board the edge of the sounding board to a point Copies of this patent may gbeobtained forfiire cents-each, by addressing the Commissionerof Patents,

v fabout twdthirds of the height thereof then extending upwardly alongthe edge of the sounding board and the end of the wrest plank to the top edge of said wrest plank; brace bars, across theupperportion of said frame, all coacting substantially as described. for the purpose specified;

4. An upright piano comprising the combination with a-wrest plank and a sound- I ing board, of a laminated framesupporting said wrest plank andsai d sounding board extending from the top of the bass end of saidwrestplank downwardly to the bottom edge of said sounding board, then extending along the bottom edge of the sounding board'for abouttwo thirds of the length thereof, then' curving upwardly and laterally toward the edge of the sounding board to a point about two thirds of the height thereof, then extending upwardly along the edge of the sounding boardand the end of the wrest plank to the top edge of said wrest plank; brace bars across the upper portion ofsaid frame; posts arranged on the lower part'of said rimand extending upwardly to the top bar, all coacting substantiallyas described for the purpose specified.

' 5. Anupri'ght piano comprising the combination with awrest plank and a sounding board, of a laminated frame supporting said wrest plank'and said sounding board extending from the top of the bass end of said wrest plankdownwardly to the bottom edge of said sounding board, then extending along the bottom edge of. the soundingboard for about two thirds of the lengthlthereof,

then curving upwardly and laterally toward the edge of the sounding board to a point f about two thirds of the height thereof,,then

extending upwardly along the edge of the "soundingboard and the end of the wrest plank to the top edge ofsaid wrest plank, all. ooacting -substantially j as described for fthe purpose specified. Y I

In witness whereof,-haye hereunto set 3 the presence of two wit my hand and seal in nesses. h l h WALTER LANE. a 8.

. Witnesses? f 1 Lotus VAN 'APPELDORN, v 1 JOHN PROKKEN,

a Washington, 11.0. I I ii 

